Sleeve for flexible shafting.



PATBNTED MAR. 17, 1903.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1 1, 1902.

.ws-Noms Param ce, Pnnfhuwn, msmnajron. u. lc.

A. w. EEOWNE. SLEEVE EOE FLEXIBLE SEAETING.

L @NEN on an enlarged scale, showing the inner end UNITED i STATES?ATENT FFICE.

ARTHUR W. BROWNE, OF PRINCEBAY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE S. S. WHITEDENTAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENN- d SYLVANIA.

SLEEVE FOR FLEXIBLE SHAFTING.

SPECIFICATION' forming part 0f Letters Patent No. 723,135, dated March17, 1903.

Application filed-Tune 11, 1902. Serial No. 111.092. (No model.)

T0 a/ZZ whom it `may concern: f

Be it known thatI, ARTHURW. BROWNE, a citizen of the United States,res'iding at Princebay, in the county of Richmond and State of New York, haveinvented-certain' new and useful Improvements in Sleeves for FlexibleShafts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertainsto make and use the same. gf

My invention relates to certain improvements in sleeves or sheathsfforliexible shafts, particularly designed for dental engines. n

The principal object of myinvention is to strengthen or reinforce suchsleeves at and near their inner fixed ends for the purpose of preventingthe sleeves and shafts frombecoming permanently bent or set, whichv isliable to occur unless some means are ein,

ployed to overcome it. i

In the accompanying drawing@1 which indicate a single exempliiication ofmy invention, Figure 1 is an exterior view on a scale smaller than theactual size. Fig. 2 is a similar view ofthe sleeve and its endconnection, the outer or free end of the sleeve being omitted. Fig. 3 isa longitudinal central sectional view of the parts shown in Fig. 2,theflexible shaft or cable not being shown.

The best form of sleeve `for dental-engine exible shafts now made may be'described as follows: The inner member of the sleeve (indicated at A)consists of a flexible coiled Wire tube extending the entire length ofthe sleeve and in whiclrthe flexibleshxaft or caextremities of thesleeve areprovided withu end pieces or ferrules having threaded con`nection with the sleeve, the end piece D at ble is adaptlierote. Closelysurrounding said inner member A is a textile covering;

B, preferably woven thereon and technically called the ,weavingfJrounded by a textile covering C, constituting the outer member of thesleeve, which is pref-` eralolybraided upon the weaving and technicallycalled the braiding AThe opposite sleeve and arranged exteriorlythereof.

vnumerous devices have been employed for preventing the too-abruptcurving of the shaft and sleeve; but so far as I am aware these have allbeen independent adjuncts of the Itis the object of my invention tostrengthen the sleeve at this point by means of a reinforce constitutinga component part of the sleeve and preferably arranged interiorlythereof. This may be accomplished by increasing the external diameter ofthe sleeve at and near its inner end without increasing the internaldiameter, the reinforce thus formed extending a suitable distance towardthe opposite end of the sleeve-say about one-fifth the length of thesleeve, more or less-and by preference gradually decreasing in diameter.

Obviously the reinforce contemplated by my invention maybe eected invarious ways; but I deem it necessary to illustrate and describe but thesingle construction shown in the drawings. This consists of a series oftubes G, H, and I of dierent lengths introduced between the ,inner andouter members of the sleeve, these tubes, in this instance, being oftextile material. The tube G is woven directly upon and around theweaving B and extends from the inner extremity of said weaving to apoint indicated at g. The tube H is woven directly upon and around thetube G as far as said tube extends and is then woven directly upon andaround the weaving B and extends to the point marked h. The tube I iswoven directly upon and around the tube H and also upon the Weaving Bandv extends to the point i. The outer covering C is braided directlyaround the tube I and is thence continued to the opposite end of thesleeve in direct contact with the Weaving B.

A sleeve provided with a reinforce such as l have just described ispractically rigid for a short distance from its in ner end and becomesflexible beyond this point, the fiexibilitygraduallyincreasing until thereinforce tapers off to the diameter of the sleeve proper. In this Waythe flexure of the sleeve When hanging loose is not so abrupt as in asleeve not provided with the reinforce, the tendency of the curve orbend of the sleeve and shaft becoming set thus being overcome. Thereinforce being incorporated With the sleeve andl also being, as I nowprefer to construct it, inside the outer covering thereof, I haveproduced a. sleeve which is not only strong and durable and sightly inappearance, .but one which obviates a common fault in'the present styleof sleeve and at the same time dispenses with the use of all'independent and external supports/ff Instead of rigidly connecting thesleeve to the engine-head by way of its inner end piece E, as usual, Ihave employed a swiveling connection, whereby the sleeve may be turnedwhen desired. Any suit-able swiveling connection may be used; but thatshown in the drawings consists of a simple swivel connection e betweenthe sections E and E' of the metal tube which connects the sleeve tolthe engine.

I am aware that a tapered flexible drivingshaft and acorrespondingly-tapered sleeve or sheath are old; but I do not broadlyclaim a tapered sleeve the external and internal surfaces of which areparallel longitudinally.

I claim as my invention-- l. A sleeve for fiexible shafts provided witha reinforce at and near its inner end, said reinforce being a componentpart of said sleeve, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A sleeve for flexible shafts provided with a reinforce at and nearits inner end, said reinforce being a component part of said sleeve andtapering toward the outer end thereof, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A sleeve for flexible shafts provided at and near its inner end witha tapered reinforce Which is located between the inner and outer membersof said sleeve, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. Asleeve for flexible shafts, which at and near its inner end is ofincreased external disurrounding said covering at and near the inner endof the sleeve, and an outer member surrounding said tubes and saidcovering, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

ARTHUR W. BROWNE.

Witnesses:

R. W. W'ooD, A. F. DECKER.

